Daily Archives: August 26, 2010

New offerings at the Sedona resort and spa include activities and sessions focused on Health & Nutrition, Nature & Creativity, and Stress Relief & Spirituality

Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Arizona.

Enchantment Resort recently released 20 new programs for individual guests, couples and families to take part in ranging from red rock hikes and nutrition, to photography and astrology. The new offerings at the Sedona resort include a variety of outdoor activities and creative sessions in the following categories: Health & Nutrition, Nature & Creativity, and Stress Relief & Spirituality.

"Enchantment Resort is well known as the leading family resort in Sedona. We wanted to build on our offerings and create guided activities for families and guests to explore the region, learn about their surroundings and reconnect with one another," said Annika Jackson, Enchantment Resort Vice President & Managing Director. "Many of the new programs are inspired by treatments and sessions at our destination spa, Mii amo, with expert staff members contributing to the design and components of the new activities."

Sedona is often acclaimed as the best destination for seeking stress relief and connecting with your spirit. Our Mii amo experts can now offer guided sessions for families and groups in "Meditation." Guests can discover how meditation can help in relaxation and learn the skills to develop better focus and concentration, become more comfortable with emotions, improve relationships and heighten self esteem. All of the new, private activities can be booked individually or as shared group or family sessions. Some age restrictions may apply; and prices and group size vary depending on the activity. A full listing of the new programs offered can be found at www.enchantmentresort.com/activities/family-programs.

be happy to hear that the same distinguished Milanese paninis–sliced to order on Berkel slicers, never pressed but lightly toasted, with the perfect ratio of the best ingredients–are getting a value makeover.

After listening to his customers, owner Michele Colombo, NYC’s unofficial panini mastermind, is launching a new menu with new, more affordable prices and larger rolls almost twice the size of their original counterparts.

The only downside? It’ll become a whole lot harder to fend off a major panini addiction!

Three guys, a rabbi and a taco truck meet on the street. Sounds like the start of a joke, but it’s actually a new wave in culinary fusion, fondly known as TAKOSHER. TAKOSHER is the nation’s first certified glatt kosher taco truck, and it’s about to hit the streets of Los Angeles, putting the lifelong dream of Lowell Bernstein into high gear.

Growing up in Los Angeles, Bernstein always had a great appreciation for Latino culture, but it was not something in which he could regularly partake gastronomically, since his kosher regimen meant his food restrictions outside of the home were rather limiting. “When I lived in Mexico City from 1994 to 1998, that cultural experience solidified my fascination with tacos,” he explains. This passion has carried through to the present, when the planets—or rather, the tortillas—finally aligned so that Bernstein could open TAKOSHER to share this passion with the public.

Bernstein enters into this culinary road show as one of three caballeros, teaming with longtime amigos Chris Martin and Moises Baqueiro. Over the years, their friendship has produced a number of unique catering events that integrate food, music, and multi-cultural appreciation.

TAKOSHER is considered “The Chosen Taco” for several reasons. First and foremost, being certified as glatt kosher requires that both the contents and preparation of the tacos are kept at the highest level of quality: natural, preservative-free ingredients are cooked, assembled and served in a highly sanitary, strictly supervised environment. TAKOSHER also stands out as “The Chosen Taco” in the colloquial sense: the entire mindset of being “kosher” or “proper, genuine and ethical” applies to the way TAKOSHER handles the treatment of its employees, the disposal of waste, and its manner of doing business in general. “TAKOSHER is a catalyst for celebrating diversity and simply eating great food with one another,” says Bernstein. “All this thoughtful set-up in creating ‘The Chosen Taco’ is for naught if the overall experience itself isn’t ‘kosher’ in every sense of the word.”

Consumers looking to experience a bottle of ultra-premium, authentic rye vodka will now be able to stay within a single-digit budget. Wódka vodka, which was recently ranked as one of the top-value vodkas, is now available throughout the country for as low as $8.99 per 750-ml bottle. Wódka is a clear, triple-filtered, Lux-grade spirit that displays subtle flavors of rye with a touch of minerality.

It adds a unique twist to vodka cocktails by complementing the added ingredients instead of masking them, or vice versa. Below are signature Wódka cocktail recipes in this spirit…

Wódka South Side The Southside was ‘born’ in Chicago during Prohibition and was the drink of choice among gangsters. This version calls for equal parts vodka and lime juice, about half that much soda water and topped off with Triple Sec or Cointreau. Shake in 5 or 10 mint leaves or a little mint liqueur or mint essence. 2 oz Wódka vodka 2 oz lime juice 1 oz soda water 1/2 oz Triple Sec or Cointreau 5-10 Mint leaves (or mint liqueur or mint essence) Ice Shake Wódka, lime juice, soda water, Triple Sec, mint and ice and strain into a Collins glass, and serve.

Wódka Greyhound 2 oz. Wodka vodka 4 oz. Grapefruit juice Ice

Just plain cool. Cocktail junkies equate this to "spiked juice;" urban legend traces its origin back to the American Bar in London in the 1930’s. Shake Wódka, grapefruit juice and ice and strain into a collins glass, and serve.

You can also salt the rim to create a "Salty Dog" and easily add another option to your personal drink menu.

Headquartered in Houston, Riazul is a silky smooth premium sipping tequila made from 100 percent agave harvested in the mountains of Jalisco, Mexico. The land of Riazul has been passed down from generation to generation for more than 200 years since the Mexican War of Independence. Riazul offers three brands, an Añejo, a Blanco, and a Reposado. For more information, visit www.riazul.com. Riazul also is active in social media circles, on Facebook and Twitter.

Tequila stands as North America’s first distilled drink. Its origins date back hundreds of years to when the Aztecs took the sap from maguey plants and fermented it into a drink first known as "Octli" — which means the Nectar of Gods.

Octli would eventually evolve into true tequila in the 1500s, shortly after the Spaniards arrived in Mexico and ran out of Spanish brandy. The Spaniards distilled agave to create Mezcal wine, the spirit which eventually came to be known as tequila — named for a small town in Jalisco, Mexico.

Tequila later became a source of pride for the country and first was exported to the United States in the late 1800s. Tequila started gaining traction in the United States as its precursor, Octli, fell into steep decline.

However, the Octli (also referred to as “pulque”) has seen a revival in recent months, with specialty importers now licensed to sell the product in nearly half of the U.S.

Riazul Premium Tequila, harvested in centuries-old fields in the highlands of Jalisco, where tequila was born, pays tribute to its heritage with the Octli (Nectar of Gods) Cocktail, made from Riazul Silver, pulque, agave nectar and hibiscus. Vaya con dios!

–“Silky, smooth, sweet” are not terms commonly used to describe tequila, but newcomer Riazul has quickly gained a reputation for appealing to tequila aficionados and novices alike. The local Texan label recently earned the top ranking according to Tequila.net,* which awarded the Riazul Tequila Añejo with a 94 rating.

* Riazul Tequila Añejo is currently rated as the top product in the listing page of the top rated Añejo Tequilas by both TEQUILA.net and the members, with a score of 94 out of 100.

The highlands of western Mexico, where Riazul harvests and processes its agave, are defined by their high elevation, cool climate, and red volcanic soil, or “tierra roja,” rich in mineral content. Riazul’s agave fields sit on 250 acres that were handed down from generation to generation for nearly 200 years following the Mexican War of Independence until Iñaki Orozco decided to introduce his own brand of tequila.

ENTRIES FOR MARTINI STYLE COCKTAIL FEATURING RAW OYSTER ACCEPTED THROUGH SEPTEMBER 16, AND FINALS AT OYSTER FRENZY ON SEPTEMBER 25

Attention bartenders and mixologists, both professional and amateur, chefs and authors! The historic Grand Central Oyster Bar in New York City is searching for the best “Oyster Shooter” recipe, and is accepting entries from now through Thursday, September 16, in the first annual “Great Oyster Shooter Face Off.”

Recipes must be “martini style” cocktails, iced and served in a martini glass, that feature a raw oyster to compliment the drink.

The Finals of the “Great Oyster Shooter Face Off” will be conducted at the Grand Central Oyster Frenzy on Saturday, September 25, at the iconic seafood restaurant “below sea level” at Grand Central Station. The five finalists – one amateur and four professionals – selected must be in attendance at the Frenzy to square off in mixing their concoction for a panel of judges.

The prizes to the winner will include dinner for two at the Grand Central Oyster Bar, and the winner’s recipe featured on the bar menu.

Entries will be accepted by email at info@oysterbarny.com, with the subject: “Great Oyster Shooter Face Off.” Please designate whether you are an amateur or professional, and at which establishment(s) you are a mixologist or chef.

With the arrival of warmer weather along Sonoma County’s coastal hills and valleys, the 2010 grape harvest at J Vineyards & Winery kicked into high gear. Harvest crews were busy picking Pinot Noir grapes from J’s "Nicole’s" and "Robert Thomas" Russian River Valley estate vineyards throughout the early morning hours, arriving just in time for a short "Blessing of the Grapes" ceremony at the winery.

Heavy coastal fog and low clouds shrouded the region in June, July, and most of August, pushing the annual grape harvest back about three weeks. Temperatures, however, began to spike warmer this week, pushing the coastal clouds offshore and helping grapes destined for sparkling wine to mature to their desired ripeness and bright acidity. The varietal wine harvest throughout J’s ten Russian River Valley estate vineyards is expected to begin by mid-September.

"We finally hit our optimum sugar levels for sparkling wine," said J Viticulturalist John Erbe. "We will continue concentrating on sparkling wine for the next three weeks, and then follow up with a three-week harvest of our grapes bound for varietal wines."

With the harvest delayed due to the unusually cool weather, both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay appear to be ripening on a parallel path. Such a compressed, rigorous harvest can push a winery to its limits. At J Vineyards & Winery, a complex "battle plan" has been put in place by winemaker George Bursick to make both the sparkling wine and varietal wine harvest transition smoothly.

wines that pair well with the flavors of the season. Arnaldo Caprai produces wonderful white and red wines that will make you forget all about the end of the summer and look forward to the cool weather.

Arnaldo Caprai, one of the most beloved winemakers in the Umbria region, produces Grecante Grechetto 2008 DOC ($19.99), a delicious and complex wine that makes a fantastic pairing with fish, cheese and white meat-based dishes. The wine is made from 100% Grechetto grapes, which offers a beautiful and well balanced mix of floral and intense fruit aromas, followed by fresh and crisp flavors of citrus and tart pineapple. The combination of fruit and floral notes will remind you of the best days of summer.

Arnaldo Caprai also produces Montefalco Rosso DOC 2007 ($23.00), a stunning, full-bodied red wine that’s delicious paired with stews, steaks, and hearty autumn dishes. This wine is best enjoyed when the weather begins to cool and enjoyed with all of the season’s goodies.. The complexity of the Montefalco Rosso is obtained by the blend of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino, and 15% Merlot. This combination of varietals offers notes of ripe red fruits with delicate hints of vanilla, and a long elegant finish.

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Dublin in NYC! We love this place. Noel proves that the Irish own the hospitality industry. The food is actually carefully prepared and delicious. Certainly the best chicken pot pie in town. Burgers are perfect. Oysters sparkle and while not inspired by Manhattan, the corned beef sandwich is fan. (It also shows up as a … Continue reading →

Mozzarella & Vino is located at the former Il Gattopardo space, at 33 west 54th Street. Patrons are very excited with its rustic interior and the amazing ingredients. Chef Vito Gnazzo is responsible for the mouthwatering menu that reflects the simplicity of authentic Italian ingredients, with a heavy emphasis on the Mozzarella di bufala Campana, Italian […]

THE GRILL is a historically based American chophouse set in midcentury New York. It takes great inspiration from history. Both the time the Seagram Building was built and the restaurants that existed at that time. It is the precursor to the NY Steakhouse, when things were still intricate and elegant. Always a favorite, The Grill-Room … Continue reading →

Best of New York: Dining Guide for Mother’s Day 2016 MAMO Restaurant Treat Mom to the best of SoHo dining at MAMO Restaurant. This French/Italian Provencal menu from Michelin-starred Executive Chef Massimo Sola hits all the right notes. Mother’s Day Specials include Salmon Carpaccio with Asparagus Salad and Burrata, Risotto Primavera with Diced Vegetables […]

Each summer, the villages which make up the Hamptons, such as Southampton, Bridgehampton, Amagansett, East Hampton and Montauk to name a few, becomes one of the hottest destinations to visit. Celebrities and socialites escape from New York City to Long Island’s East End to take in the beautiful scenery and enjoy some of the best … Continue reading →

Montenegrin wine maker is poised to become a sensation state-side. June 26, 2015, New York, NY — Discerning palates in the United States will now be able to sample the outstanding Montenegrin wines that have rest of the world talking. Radevic Estates is pleased to announce that their wines are now available in New York. … Continue reading →

Located in the heart of Southampton, the Southampton Inn’s envious location offers guests a gateway to the best the Hamptons summer season has to offer this 2015. With 90 newly renovated guest rooms, on-site dining, outdoor recreation, and connections to all the most popular activities on the East End, the Southampton Inn is the ultimate … Continue reading → […]

Lovers of nieuwe maatjes herring imported from the Netherlands can finally celebrate the arrival of the delicacy this Thursday (June 18). The Grand Central Oyster Bar‘s annual Holland Herring Festival was delayed a week, and will finally get underway on Thursday. The first-tasting ceremony, now in its 35th year, will begin at 12:00 noon. This … Continue read […]